Beowulf For Kids

translated by don kelly

Preface:

To those particular teachers who encouraged my interest in reading and writing: that primary school teacher who
fed us a steady diet of, "Canterbury Tales;" that middle-school journalism teacher who found ways to
keep us focused on the story line; that high school english teacher who grilled us daily in Iambic Pentameter and
Dactylic Hexameter; those university professors who taught creative and technical writing, though miserly given
to praise, rewarded, "an inate ability to synthesize materials from beyond the requirements of the course."

With the love of ancient literature came an integral interest in old music, for we find in many instances, folk-tails
chanted by the ancient Scop, (story teller) ), accompanied by a hand held stringed, harp style, instrument. Granted
I have taken liberal literary license with Beowulf to make it interesting for kids.

Based on an early interest in ancient literature, I always harbored the theory that ancient manuscripts could be translated into elementary versions interesting to kids. To follow will be yet untranslated versions of Plato, Homer,
Gilgamesh, and others. I hope to fullfill two important purposes with these stories; that they be read and understood
by children, and that they pass the inevitable critical review by scholars of ancient literature.

Study Outline For Beowulf:

Chapter I
The ancestrial line of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, starting with his great-grandfather,"Shild" who descended
from the founders of the royal line, "Clann Skyld."

Chapter II
Grendel, the monster from hell, attacks Herot, King Hrothgar's great hall

Chapter III
Beowulf hears about the monster and crosses the ocean to help

Chapter IV
Beowulf in Herot Hall brags about killing dragons and sea monsters and says that Grundel will also fall

Chapter V
Beowulf pretends to be asleep, but sets an ambush for Grendel and rips the monster's arm off

Chapter VI
A celebration of the defeat of Grundle with fears that Grundel's mother will seek revenge

Chapter VII
Grendel's mother kills Hrothgar's oldest and best life long friend to avenge the injury to her son

Chapter VIII
Beowulf swears to his grandfather, Hrothgar, that he will hunt down and destroy Grundel and his mother

Chapter IX
Beowulf enters the deep swamp, finds a magic sword and rids the world of the predatory Grundel family

Chapter X
Beowulf is heaped with praise and gifts by his greatful grandfather, King Hrothgar

Chapter XI
Beowulf returnes from his voyage and tells his family and his Uncle Higlac about how he destroyed Grundel

Chapter XII
Now king in his old age, Beowulf's land is besieged by still another fierce dragon

Chapter XIII
Beowulf and best friend Wiglaf team up to kill the dragon, but Beowulf is grieviously wounded

Chapter XIV
Beowulf dies of his injuries and is given a magnificant funeral fit for a King. Beowulf's kindom falls apert after his death